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| Pro-Brexit demonstrators are seen behind pro-Brexit MP Nigel Evans as he speaks to the media outside the Houses of Parliament in London |
Parliament will again try to take control of Britainโs departure from the European Union on Monday, with some lawmakers hoping to force Prime Minister Theresa May to drop her Brexit strategy and pursue close economic ties with the bloc.
Mayโs deal, which has been defeated by lawmakers three times even after she promised to step down if it passed, was further dented when her own parliamentary enforcer said a softer Brexit was inevitable.
Three days after the date on which Britain was originally due to leave the EU, it was still uncertain how, when or even if the United Kingdom would ever say goodbye to the bloc it first joined 46 years ago.
The third defeat of Mayโs divorce deal left one of the weakest leaders in a generation grappling with a perilous crisis over Brexit, the United Kingdomโs most significant move since World War Two.
Parliament will vote on different Brexit options on Monday, possibly showing a majority backing for a customs union, and then May could try one last roll of the dice by bringing her deal back to a vote in parliament as soon as Wednesday.
Mayโs government and her party, which has grappled with schism over Europe for 30 years, was in open conflict between those pushing for a customs union with the EU and eurosceptics who are demanding a cleaner break with the bloc.
Mayโs enforcer in parliament โ known as the chief whip โ said the government should have been clearer that Mayโs loss of her majority in parliament in a snap 2017 election would โinevitablyโ lead it to accept a softer Brexit.
โThe government as a whole probably should have just been clearer on the consequences of that,โ Julian Smith told the BBC in an interview published on Monday.
โThe parliamentary arithmetic would mean that this would be inevitably a kind of softer type of Brexit,โ said Smith, who also said ministers had tried to undermine the prime minister.
Their behaviour, he said, was the โworst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political historyโ.
Asked about his comments, Mayโs spokesman said: โThe PM made it clear that there was a need to bring the country back together after the Brexit vote and that is what they (the government) are working to achieve.โ
On the lack of discipline in government, he said Brexit brought โout strong emotionsโ on all sides of the debate.
Asked about the possibility of a snap election to break the deadlock in parliament, Mayโs spokesman said the prime minister has said an election would not be in the national interest.
BREXIT IN MELTDOWN
In a 2016 referendum, 17.4 million voters, or 51.9 percent, backed leaving the EU while 16.1 million, or 48.1 percent, backed staying. But ever since, opponents of Brexit have sought to soften, or even stop, the divorce.
The Times newspaper said May had been warned by some senior ministers that she faced resignations if she agreed to pursue a softer Brexit.
Britain had been due to leave the EU on March 29 but the political deadlock in London forced May to ask the bloc for a delay. Currently, Brexit is due to take place at 2200 GMT on April 12 unless May comes up with another option.
The Brexit crisis has left the United Kingdom divided: supporters of both Brexit and EU membership marched through London last week. Many on both sides feel betrayed by a political elite that has failed to show leadership.
Business is also increasingly frustrated. โEnough is enough. We are all running out of patience. Make a decision and unite around a customs union compromise that delivers economic security and stability,โ Siemensโ Maier said.
โWhere the UK used to be beacon for stability, we are now becoming a laughing stock,โ he said in open letter to lawmakers published by website Politico.
Parliament is due to vote at around 1900 GMT on Monday on a range of alternative Brexit options selected by Speaker John Bercow from nine proposals put forward by lawmakers, including a no-deal exit, preventing a no-deal exit, a customs union, or a second referendum.
โThere are no ideal choices available and there are very good arguments against any possible outcome at the moment but we are going to have to do something,โ said Justice Secretary David Gauke, who voted in the 2016 referendum to stay in the EU.
โThe prime minister is reflecting on what the options are, and is considering what may happen but I donโt think any decisions have been made,โ he told BBC TV. โWe are clearly going to have to consider very carefully the will of parliament.โ
